The group of volunteers travel the city’s streets with wheeled-suitcases full of books and hand out hot drinks to rough sleepers while they browse the titles.

The group, called Wheely Good Books, is the brainchild of nursing assistant Pete Wentland, who is of no fixed abode himself.

Pete and fellow volunteers started handing out books three weeks ago – he says he had the idea while working with homeless people as part of another project – and so far the response has been fantastic.

The project started last month but already the idea is being picked up in London, Brighton and even New Zealand

“It’s been going brilliantly,” he said.

“People have been responding really well, we’ve given out a lot of books. We have just started to give people requests – we’ve been able to come back to them with books they’ve asked for.”

So far the group have been out four times and set up at three events in the city and he says the reception has been good.

“We’ve been really busy setting it up,” he said.

Pete Wentland stocking the shelves in the new storage and office space

“There’s been a fantastic reaction from people, they seem really genuinely pleased to get a book.

“A lot of homeless people find it difficult to access library services – although you can get a library card with no fixed address, it can be hard for people to keep the books safe if they’re living on the street. They might get lost or damaged and then they’d face a fine.”

Read More

While Wheely Good Books do appreciate getting their books back Peter said it is not their priority.

As for the requests they have had, Peter says the reading tastes of Bristol’s homeless population are as diverse as they are.

“As for the range, it’s as big as the number of people out there. Our first request was for Nietzsche – we’ve been asked for sports biographies, novels, Dostoevsky, history, sci-fi – it’s really varied as you can imagine.”

The group say the reaction from volunteers and users has been great

The group take requests from users and posts them on their Facebook page where people can donate them.

Peter said: “We try and make it nice, all lit up – we give them a hot drink and a biscuit and people can have a browse, we try and make it a nice relaxed time, away from the monotony of life on the street.”

Read More

The group also try to give out as much practical advice and help as possible along with hot drinks and books, handing out the Bristol Survival Guide with information on accessing services.

They have also partnered with the Bristol how water bottle network to hand out donated hot water bottles along with a card detailing where they can be refilled.

The team have just secured a space where they can store books with a postal address people can send them to, and they have big plans for the future.

The mobile library is run out of suitcases and aims to help people with books, hot drinks and practical advice

“Once we’ve settled into a routine we want to start supplying night shelters and women’s refuges,” said Peter. The group also have plans to eventually set up reading classes to help homeless people with literacy skills.

The group say they do not want to be seen as a replacement for libraries, which are currently threatened with closure.